The old-timers I used to work with called woodworkers "mechanics." If, as the dictionary says, a mechanic is "a manual laborer or artisan," then I guess the term fits. On this woodworking blog I share photos and thoughts about my projects past and present. I wholeheartedly welcome your comments, questions, criticisms, and reflections!

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Stanley #5 Restored!

I recently finished restoring this old Stanley #5 jack plane for my friend Jamie. His parents had bought it for him at a yard sale, and it was in a sorry state. In addition to never having been tuned when new, it had picked up a lot of rust and other crud over the years.

I disassembled the plane, being careful to note where each part went. Next, I lapped the bottom and sides on an edge sander. It took a long time since it had never been trued when new. Planes don't come ready to use from the factory. The soles have to be flattened (or "lapped"), the chipbreaker requires modification, and the iron needs grinding and honing. I did all of these things then shined all the loose metal pieces.

I also refinished the knob and handle. Instead of the thick lacquer that had been on the wooden parts, I used boiled linseed oil and wax. That finish has a nice feel in the hand.

Incidentally, old Stanley #5's don't hold a lot of monetary value, so there's nothing much to be lost by doing whatever you want to them. They can often be found on eBay for $30 or so. After a couple of hours of work they can usually be restored to a better-than-new state. If you take on a project like this and want to go whole hog, invest in a replacement iron from Lie-Nielsen. They produce irons of thicker steel which are harder and hold a better edge for a longer time.